Apparatus for puncturing containers



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. 'o. MOORE APPARATUS FOR PUNCTURING CONTAINERS Nov. 15, 1960 Filed April 27, 1959 '-l\ INVENTOR HARRY O. MooIaE- BY EJFWMAM W ATTORNEYS:

Nov. 15, 1960 H. o. MOORE APPARATUS FOR PUNCTURING CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 27, 1959 INVENTOR HARRY O. M0025 m m m A Nov. 15, 1960 H. o. MOORE 2,959,852

APPARATUS FOR PUNCTURING CONTAINERS Filed April 27. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 31 as 3b 4/ a2 85 55 SI 80 9\ 47 62 63 61 72 20/ w 7o 74 'n 75 9o 4J5:

INVENTOR! 5 HARRY O. Moo RE F 0 BYQM W @TfORNEYS APPARATUS FOR PUNCTURING CONTAINERS Harry 0. Moore, Charlotte, N.C., assignor to Silabert gorpioration, Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of North aro ma Filed Apr. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 809,188

(Iiaims. (Cl. 30-4) This invention relates to an improved, automatic electric motor-driven opener for puncturing sealed metal.

tates Patent anism for imparting downward and then upward movement to a punch. While such apparatus is quite simple and can be economically constructed and maintained, it has "been found that the sudden movement imparted to the punch would cause the punch to penetrate the container so'rapidly as to splash liquid contents out of the container, thus requiring that surfaces adjacent the apparatus be cleaned quite frequently and frequently resulting in soiling of the clothes of the person operating the same.

More recently, a device for puncturing cans and other containers was developed in which an electrically .driven gear train operated the punching device so that its rate of downward movement could be reduced .as compared to the speed that would be imparted thereto if a solenoid or electromagnet were .used, and with the result that the punch or cutter could penetrate a container of liquid without causing the liquid to splash about as the container was penetrated. However, the latter type of apparatus has included a large number of parts :and has been expensive to manufacture and maintaimparticularly When .it is considered that a large number of gears were used and a particular type of mechanism :had to be devised for .changing the rotary motion of the gears in the gear train to a reciprocating motion in order to reciprocate the punch of the apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved container puncturing apparatus provided with a simple and inexpensive mechanism for imparting rapid but smooth downward and upward movement to the punch head to avoid splashing liquid contents of such containers when the tops thereof are punctured by the apparatus.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a container puncturing apparatus of the character described in which vertical oscillatory or reciprocatory motion is imparted to the punch by means of an electrically driven, spirally grooved or threaded shaft penetrating an internally threaded member or nut attached to the arm to which the punch is attached.

It is still another object of this invention to provide apparatus of the character described including mechanism for automatically starting the motor when a container is positioned beneath the then elevated punch, with novel switch means for reversing the direction of rotation .of the motor, when the punch has completed a punching apparatus.

:relay or solenoid relay in the circuit to the motor.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the descriptionproceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 isa top plan view of the improved puncturing apparatus;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the improved apparatus;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, mostly in elevation, taken substantially along line -33 in Figure '1 and showing the various elements of the apparatus in the positions occupied thereby while the apparatus is at rest;

Figures '4, '5 'and'6 are views similar to Figure '3 showing successive stages in the operation of the apparatus;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevation of the upper portion of the apparatus, but looking at the opposite side thereof fro-m that shown in Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a schematic electrical diagram showing a novel switch mechanism for controlling the operation "of the apparatus, and showing portions of the punching mechanism similar to those shown in Figure 3, and also showing the lever supporting punch adjacent the switch movement of the punch supporting lever.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 20 broadly designates the frame of the improved Frame 20 comprises 'a standard '21 having a rearwardly extending base 22 on its lower portion and also having a forwardly projectingstationary container support .or platform 23 forming a container receiving means on its front portion. The front portion of standard 21 has a concave surface 24 for receiving ,thereagainst a container or can suchas is vindicated at C in Figures 1 and 2.

Opposed sides of standard .21 are preferably provided with projections 25, 26 adjacent the lower portion thereof. Each projection 25, 26 is provided with a circular cavity 27 for receiving a pivot shaft 30 of a respective auxiliary container support 31. Only one auxiliary co-n tainer support 31 is shown and its enlarged container supporting portion is preferably provided with a leg .33 projecting downwardly therefrom which is adapted to rest upon the main container support .23 when the aux iliary container support 31 occupies operative position as shown in Figures 1 and'2.

The upper end or 'top portion of standard 21 is bifuroverlies platform 23. Cutter head or punch 38 is adjustably secured to the lower surface of the front portion Patented Nov. 15, 1960 3 of lever 36 by a screw 40 loosely penetrating a longitudinally extending adjustment slot 41 provided in the front portion of lever 36. Lever 36 is operated by means of a pair of matingthreaded members 45, 47 to be presently described.

The rear portion of lever 36 has a longitudinally extending slot 42 therein which defines opposed arms 43, 44 between whose rearmost portions the first threaded member 45 is pivotally mounted, as at 46, on an axis substantially parallel to the axis of pivot point 37. The second threaded member 47 mates with member 45 and is driven by suitable connections with an electric motor 50 suitably secured to the rear surface of standard 21. Thus, lever 36 serves to connect vertically movable punch 38 with the pair of mating threaded members 45, 47.

Threaded member 45 is shown as being internally threaded; in the form of a nut, and threaded member 47 is shown in the form of an externally threaded or spirally grooved shaft. However, member 45 may be externally threaded and member 47 may be internally threaded, without departing from the invention.

The shaft of electric motor 50 projects downwardly therefrom and has a small pulley 51 fixed thereon about which an endless belt 52 is entrained. Endless belt 52 also engages a relatively large pulley 53 fixed on the lower portion of threaded shaft 47. Pulleys 51, 53 are preferably V-pulleys and belt 52 is preferably a V-belt.

In order that shaft 47 may rotate and may also oscillate forwardly and rearwardly at its upper portion, the lower end of shaft 47, below the pulley 53, is anchored to frame 20. The anchoring means comprises an annular groove or recess 55 on the lower end of shaft 47 which fits in a slotted or forked journal or anchor block 56 suitably secured to the upper surface of base 22 of frame 20. The forked construction of journal block 56 facilitates ease in assembling the apparatus, but more importantly, the forked journal block 56 permits the threaded shaft 47 to rock to and fro when the shaft is driven and consequent upward and downward movement is imparted to nut 45 and the arms 43, 44 on the rear portion of lever 36.

In order to start motor 50 automatically and to effect a complete cycle in movement of cutter head or punch 38 from raised position to lowered position and back to raised position whenever a container C is placed upon either of the supports 31 or 23 and against the concave surface 24 on standard 21, a novel control circuit, including a novel control device or actuator and switch mechanism, is provided, which will now be described.

The control device or actuator for initiating and stopping operation of electric motor 50 is best shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, wherein it is broadly designated at 60. This actuator is a form of switch and comprises a spring-loaded button or plunger 61 which normally projects from the central upper portion of the curved or concave surface 24 of standard 21. Plunger 61 has an enlarged medial portion 62 which is guided for axial movement in a sleeve 63 fixed in and penetrating the upper portion of standard 21.

Sleeve 21 contains a compression spring 64 which bears against enlarged portion 62 of plunger 61 and whose other end bears against a restricted portion 65 in said sleeve 63. Plunger 61 also has a rearwardly projecting stem or shaft portion 66 integral therewith about which compression spring 64 is positioned and which loosely extends through the restricted portion 65 of sleeve 63. The rear end of shaft or stem 66 is fixed to a guide block 70, preferably made from an electrical insulation material, and which is adapted to slide upon a guide plate 71 suitably secured to the upper end of electric motor 50 and also preferably being suitably secured to the rear portion of sleeve 63.

A flexible arm or leaf spring member 72 is suitably secured to and projects rearwardly from said block 70. A switch point or contact holder 73 is loosely mounted for longitudinal movement on flexible arm 72. A compression spring 74, which is preferably not as strong as compression spring 64, loosely encircles flexible arm '72. One end of compression spring 74 bears against block 70 and its other end bears against or may be connected to contact holder 73. Flexible arm 72 has an abutment or stop 76 fixed thereto for engaging and imparting forward movement to contact holder 73 when arm 72 moves forward, as will be later described.

The rear portion of flexible arm 72 extends beneath a bridge 75 which is shown as being of inverted substantially U-shaped form in Figure 9, the lower ends of the two legs thereof being suitably secured to or formed integral with guide plate 71. Contact holder 73 is also preferably made from an insulation material and the normal expanded length of spring 74 is preferably such that the rear end of contact holder 73 is spaced forwardly of bridge 75 when plunger 61 occupies inoperative position; that is, when plunger 61 projects outward ly or forwardly of the concave surface 24 of standard 21.

A first metallic actuator contact 80 is positioned upon and suitably secured to the forward portion of contact holder 73. Contact 80 is disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane as a mating second actuator contact 81 which is normally maintained in alinement with, but in spaced relation to, contact 80 by a flexible contact holder 82.

The medial portion of flexible contact holder 82 is normally bent upwardly so the flexible contact holder 82 is of generally inverted V-shaped form. The forward end of flexible contact holder 82 is suitably secured to insulation guide block 70. It will be noted that the rear portion of flexible arm 72 extends beneath the upper portion of bridge 75 and its free end, rearwardly of bridge 75, has an upwardly and forwardly inclined cam portion 85 thereon or suitably secured thereto. This cam portion 85 is also preferably made from a flexible sheet material.

A knock-off finger or element normally bears against the rear end of flexible arm 72 and extends upwardly and is fixed on one end of a substantially horizontal shaft 91 which penetrates and is loosely mounted in the arm 44 of lever 36. Tthe other end of knock-off shaft 91 has a downwardly projecting portion 92 integral therewith, to the lower end of which a tension spring 93 is connected (Figure 7). The other end of tension spring 93 is connected to a spring anchor 94 projecting outwardly from arm 44 of lever 36 and disposed forwardly of portion 92 of knock-off shaft 91.

As the rear portion of lever 36 moves upwardly with nut 45, knock-off finger 90 moves upwardly and out of engagement with the rear end of flexible arm 72. Accordingly, a stop 95, in the form of a pin, projects outwardly from arm 44 of lever 36 and is adapted to then be engaged by the down-turned portion 92 of knock-off shaft 91. A novel switch mechanism is provided for reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft of electric motor 50 when cutter head or punch 38 has moved downwardly a predetermined distance. However, before this switch mechanism is described, it is deemed well to describe the operation of the actuator 60 as thus far described.

It will be apparent, as the description proceeds, that contacts 80, 81 of actuator 60 are interposed in an electrical circuit to motor 50. Accordingly, when a container C is placed against the front surface 24 of standard 21, as shown in Figure 4, plunger 61 is moved rearwardly in sleeve 63. In so doing, block 70 also moves rearwardly and causes contact 81 to move against contact 80. This starts electric motor 50.

Since block 70 moves rearwardly, this compresses spring 74 sufficiently to move contact holder block 73 rearwardly against the front surface of the upper porwithacontact -81 as shown in Figureo.

ezgasassa tion of bridge 75. Since the extent of rearward movement'of guide block 70 is greater than the extent of rearward movement of contact 81, the central portion of flexible contact holder 82 moves'upwardly as shown in Figures 4 and so that-contact 81 is actually biased against contact d0 during operation of electric motor 50 As heretofore stated, contacts '80, 81 are interposed in an electrical circuit to motor 50 and, as contact 81 moves against contact "80 in the manner heretofore described, this initiates rotation of threaded shaft 47 in one direction. Accordingly, 'nut and the rear arms 43, 44 move upwardly .as the front end of lever 36 and the punch 38 move downwardly. In so doing, it will be noted that :knock-oif finger 00 ,is biased rearwardly as 'flex'ible arm .72 moves rearwardly with plunger 61.

As shown in Figure 5, with continued upward movement of the rear portion .of lever36, knockeofl finger 90 moves out of engagement with the rear end of flexible arm 72. Spring 93 then urges knock-off finger 90 for- Wardly until the down-turned portion 92 of shaft'91 engages stop 95 (Figure 7). As the rear portions oflever 36.1'each uppermost position, the improved reversing rswitch mechanism, to be later described, reverses the .direction of rotation of the shaft of electric motor so that threaded shaft 47 is caused to rotate in the reverse direction to impart downward movement to .the rearpor- .tions of lever 36.

.Aslever36 moves downwardly, .since knock-off finger 90 then occupies a more forward position :than it vdoes when .actuator is initially vrendered operative, it will he .noted in Figure 6 that knock-off finger 90 engages and slidesdownwardly against the rear surface-of cam v85. Thereafter, finger 90 bearsagainst theupper surface of that portion of cam 85 which is-a gainst the upper sur- :faceoffiexible arm 72. This moves contact 'holder 73 downwardly 'below theupper portion of bridge .so'that contact holder 73 :moves rearwardly under tthe pressure of spring 74 until contact flit-engages bridge 75. Thus, contact moves rearwardly of and-out of engagement :Even though a container C mayremain against the front surface 24 of standard 21 and maintains plunger-61 in depressed position, the flow of electrical current to motor :50 is still interrupted when acycle of .punch 38 is completed.

2111 :Figure 6, it will be noted'that the :rearsport-ions :of

ilever36have not reached fully lowered position as shown 'in %Figure:3. .However, the circuit is brokenas the :parts occupy substantially the position shown in :Figure 6 .so

that further coasting of electric motor :50 will then .re-

turn .punch 3810 the fully elevated position shown :in Figure '3. Since the rear portion of flexible arm '72 is -inclineddownw-ardly and rearwardly in Figure 6, 'it cannot prevent downward movement of therear portions of lever 36, because knock-off finger may readily slide off the rear portion or" flexible arm 72.

When the can or other container "C is removed from 'its position against front surface 24 of standard v21, spring 64 then returns plunger 61 to theoutward posi- 7 tion and,-in so doing, block 70 is returned to the position shown in Figure 3. This also moves contact 81 to the forward position shown in Figure 3, along with flexible arm 72 to reset the control device 60. Ordinarily, frictiona-l contact between contact holder block 73iandfiexible arm 72 is sufficient to cause cont-act holder block 73 to move forwardly beneath the upper portion of :bridge75 .and to return to the position shown in Figure 3. :However, spring 74 may be attached to the front endo-f. contact holder block 73 or the abutment 76 may be provided ;on the rear portion of flexible arm '72 to :cause :contact holder block 73 to move forwardly ras :flexible arm '72 moves forwardly from the position 10f Figure 6 itolthat of :Figure 3.

loosely extends.

Reversing switch mechanism and electrical .circuit The novel reversing switch mechanism is best shown inl'Figures 1, 2, 8 and 10 wherein it is broadly designated at 1100. .This reversing switch .is particularly devised'to obviate the need'for amagnetic or solenoid relay'inithe circuit to reversible motor '50. The most important feature of this switch resides in its embodiment of means to reverse the flow of current in motor 50 soquickly as to avoid stoppage of'the motor even though the reversing of the flow of current to motor 50 may :occur "when motor 50 .is under a 'heavyload.

,Switch mechanism "100 comprises a substantially "rec- 'tangu'lar housing 101 ,provided with .a removable cover 102 and an inner wall W. Inthis instance, iwall Wt'of housing 101is suitably secured to ear 34.1on'the upper end of standard '21. A relatively thin switch "arm for .lever 103 'is oscillatably supported intermediate its ends,

on the inner wall W of housing101 for pivotal movev.ment about a substantially horizontal axis, as at '104.

limiting and holding means are provided to limit upward and downward movement of the front portion of lever 103. Such limiting means is shown in the form of a pair of upper metallic stop members 105 and a pair of'lower metallic stop members 106 which'project inwar'dly'from and are suitably secured to or integral with the inner wall W, of housing 101 (Figure 10). Upper and lower surfaces of the inner or front portion of lever 103 ,are preferably provided with permanent magnets 110, 111 for engaging the respective stops '105,

106 when the inner .portion of lever'103 occupies respective upward and downward positions. Thus, magnets 110, 1 11 .hold the rear portion of switch arm 10?: 'in respective raised and lowered positions until arm 103 is forcibly moved away from the respective stops'105, 106, as will be later described.

ZTherear portion oflever 103 is its operating end and loosely extends through the .rear wall of .housing 101. The rearportionof lever 103 is provided 'with a longitu'dinally extending slot 112 through which a rod 113 Rod 113 has a pair oflongitudinally spaced abutments 115, 116 adjustably mounted thereon. Thus,,abutments115,'116 are shown in the form of lock nuts threaded on rod 113.

"Rod 113 moves downwardly and upwardly'with arm 43 of punch lever 36. Accordingly, upper and lower .ends of rod'113 are'bent inwardly and attached to respective upwardly and downwardly extending wing portions "1'17'integral with or suitably secured to arm 43 :of punch lever 36., At least-the operating end of, and preferably the entire length of, the reversing switch lever 103 is a ,made from .a Lflex'ible material, such as copper, spring steel, or the like.

It .is thus seen that, .as arm 43 onthe'rear'portion of punch lever "36 .reaches"'lowered position (Figure '2), abutment 115 engages and imparts downward movement to the .rear portion of switch lever 103. In so doing, the front ,portion or body of switch lever .103 is stationary for a short time and then it snaps upwardly, away from .lower stops 106, so the permanent magnets. thereon snap into engagement with .and. adhere "to ,to produce torsional force in lever 103 sufficient to overcome the opposing force of magnets 110, the front portion of switch lever 103 snaps downwardly to move -magnets 110 away from stops 105 and to move magnets 111 into engagement with stops 1106. Switch lever :103

thenremains in the latter position until abutment again engages and imparts downward'rnovement :to the :rear portion of :switch .lever 103,

It is important to note that, when punch 38 engages and is puncturing a container C, this places a relatively heavy load on motor 50. If a conventional switch was used to reverse the flow of current through motor 50, it would require that a switch arm be moved away from one set of contacts and against another set of contacts with movement of lever 36. This would result in an interval in which no circuit was completed to motor 50. Since motor 50 may not coast sufficiently, when under a heavy load, to move lever 36 to where the reversing circuit could be completed, the motor would then stop. However, this does not happen when the improved switch mechanism 100 is used, because motor 50 will have already moved lever sufficiently to cause the reversing contacts to close by the time switch lever 103 has been biased sufiiciently to overcome the opposing force of the attraction of its magnets to corresponding stops 105 or 106, as the case may be. This advantage is particularly necessary in the reversing of motor 50 as punch 38 reaches lowered position.

Abutments 115 and 116 are adjustable on rod 113 to insure that switch arm 103 is flexed exactly the right amount, at the right time, to shift the front body portion of lever 103 from one set of limiting stops 105 or 106 to the other. This also facilitates adjusting the range of movement of punch 38. This range of movement may be adjusted by removing pivot pin 46 from arms 43, 44 of lever 36 and then manually rotating nut 45 on shaft 47 to the desired position. Punch 38 may then be moved to aline the holes in arms '43, 44 with nut 45 and the pin 46 is then reinserted in the latter elements 43, 44, 45.

When the rear portion of switch arm 103 is moved downwardly, this effects rotation of electric motor 50 in one direction if contacts 80, 81 of actuator 60 (Figures 3 through 6) occupy closed position. On the other hand, when the rear portion of switch lever 103 is moved upwardly, this reverses the fiow of current in electric motor 50 to cause motor 50 to rotate in the reverse direction. To this end, it will be observed in Figures 2, 8 and that the upper and lower surfaces, of that portion of lever 103 forwardly of and closely adjacent pivot point 104, are provided with respective projections or abutments 120, 121 which engage the proximal surfaces of respective first and second sets of contacts a, b and c, d. Abutments 120, 121 should be made from an insulation material. Contacts a, b, c, d are biased to open position relative to respective contacts a, b, c, a". The contacts a, a, b, b are each yieldably supported by a respective leaf spring member e and contacts 0, c, d, d are each yieldably supported by a respective leaf spring member e.

The leaf spring members 2 associated with upper contacts a, a, b, b are secured to an insulation block f and the leaf spring members e associated with the lower contacts c, c, d, d are suitably secured to an insulation block f. Insulation blocks 1, f are suitably secured to the inner wall W of switch housing 101.

Through the medium of leaf spring members 2, 2', contacts a, c are interconnected by a conductor 123; contacts a, d are interconnected by a conductor 124; contacts b, c are interconnected by a conductor 125; and contacts b', d are interconnected by a conductor 126.

Referring to the right-hand portion of Figure 8, it will be noted that reversible motor 50 is preferably, but not necessarily, of the series type and includes field coils 50a, 50b which collectively substantially encircle an armature 50c. The commutator of armature 500 is engaged by brushes 50d, 501:; shown between coils 50a, 50b, and to which corresponding ends of respective conductors 130, 131 are connected. The other ends of conductors 130, 131 are connected to respective contacts b, a.

Respective ends of field coils 50a, 50b have corresponding ends of respective conductors 132, 133 connected thereto, whose other ends are connected to contact d of switch mechanism 100 and contact 80 of actuator 60. A lead wire or conductor 134 extends from a suitable source of electrical energy, embodied in a plug 135, to conductor 0 of switch mechanism 100. The other side of plug 135 has a lead wire or conductor 136 extending therefrom to contact 81. Opposite ends of a conductor 137 are connected to the ends of field coils 50a, 50b opposite from conductors 132, 133. In this instance, it will be noted that conductor 136 is connected to contact 81 through the flexible contact holder 82 and those conductors connected to contacts a through d and a through d are connected thereto through the medium of the respective leaf spring members e, e.

Method of operation When the apparatus is idle or not in use, the various parts thereof occupy the positions shown in Figures 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Accordingly, contacts 80, 81 of actuator 60 are open, the upper or first set of contacts a, a and b, b of switch mechanism are closed and the lower or second set of contacts 0, c and d, d are open.

When a container C is placed in the receiving means; against front surface 24 of standard 21, with consequent inward movement being imparted to plunger 61, actuator contacts 80, 81 are closed in the manner heretofore described to cause current to flow in one direction through electric motor 50. It will be observed in Figure 8 that, since switch lever 103 is in lowered position at its operating end, current flows from the source 135, through lead conductor 134, conductor 123, contacts a, a, conductors 124, 130, brush 50e, armature 50c, brush 50d, conductors 131, and, thus, to contact b.

Current then flows from contact b through contact b, through conductors 126, 132, field coil 50a, conductor 137, field coil 50b, conductor 133, contacts 80, 81 of actuator 60 and through conductor 136 to the other side of the source of current 135.

It is thus seen that current flows in one direction between brushes 50d, 50a (from left to right) and, since the motor is a series-wound reversible motor, this causes the shaft of motor 50 to rotate in one direction.

As has already been described, rotation of the shaft of electric motor 50 in one direction imparts corresponding rotation to threaded shaft 47 to move the rear portions or arms 43, 44 of lever 36 upwardly and to, in turn, move punch 38 downwardly into engagement with and through the top of container C. When punch 38 reaches a predetermined fully lowered position, abutment 116 (Figure 10) on rod 113 engages and moves the rear or operating portion of switch lever 103 upwardly. This bends upwardly the operating rear end of switch lever arm 103 until the torque thus induced in arm 103 causes its body to move away from stops 105. It then snaps toward stops 106, and immediately permits contacts a, a, b, b to open as the lower projection 121 on the front portion or body of switch lever 103 is lowered and closes contacts 0, c, d, a" to effect reverse rotational movement to the shaft of electric motor 50.

This is caused due to the fact that current then flows from the source 135 through lead conductor 134, contacts c, c, conductor 131, brush 50a, armature 50c, brush 50e and conductor to contact d. Since contact d then engages contact d, current fiows from contact d through conductor 132, field coil 50a, conductor 137, field coil 50b, conductor 133, contacts 80, 81 and conductor 136 to the other side of the source of current 135.

In the latter instance, it should be noted that current then flows in the reverse direction through armature 500; that is, when the electric motor rotates in the first direction, current is flowing from brush 50a to brush 50d. Conversely, when motor 50 rotates in the reverse direction, this is caused by current flowing from brush 50d to brush 50e.

Now, when reverse rotational movement is imparted to the shaft of motor 50, punch 38 moves upwardly and, although the rear arms 43, 44 move downwardly, the rear portion of switch lever 103 remains in raised position 9 until it is engaged by the upper abutment 115 on rod 113 moving with arm 43 of punch lever 36.

As punch lever 36 reaches substantially the position of Figure 6 with movement thereof in a clockwise direction, actuator contacts 80-, 81 are opened, in the manner heretofore described. This stops the flow of current to switch mechanism 100 and, consequently, to electric motor 50. The motor continues to coast for a short time thereafter during which abutment 115 moves the rear portion of switch lever 103 downwardly to open contacts c, c and d, d while closing contacts a, a and b, b. Also, the shaft of motor 50 coasts for a sufiicient length of time after the contacts 80, 81 are open as shown in Figure 6 so that punch 38 will move to the fully raised position substantially as shown in Figure 3.

This completes a cycle in the operation of the apparatus, it being apparent that all the various functions of the apparatus will be repeated once a can or other container C which has been previously punctured is removed and another container is positioned against the front surface 24 of standard 21.

Although the magnets 110, 111 are shown attached to the body of switch lever 103, it is to be distinctly understood that they may even be omitted from lever 103 and secured to or form stops 105, 106, just so long as a restricted magnetic field exists to attract lever 103 in either direction when it is moved beyond a point substantially halfway between stops 105, 106 in either direction.

It is thus seen that I have provided an improved mechanism for imparting controlled reciprocatory movement to the punch of a container puncturing apparatus which operating apparatus is embodied in a novel actuating device, a novel reversing switch mechanism and a novel arrangement of mechanical elements for producing reciprocatory motion from a driven rotary element.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a container puncturing ap paratus having a frame, container receiving means, and a vertically movable punch, of a pair of mating threaded members, means connecting said punch to one of said threaded members, the other threaded member being connected to said frame, electrically operable means for rotating one of said members relative to the other of said members to move the punch downwardly, means actuable by a container for closing an electrical circuit to said electrically operable means, means to reverse said electrically operable means when the punch has reached a predetermined lowered position to raise said punch, and means independent of said container to break the circuit to said electrically operable means when the punch is raised to a predetermined position.

2. In a container puncturing apparatus having a frame, container receiving means, and a vertically movable punch above said means, the combination of a pivoted 10 lever supporting said punch, a pair of first and second mating threaded members, means connecting the first threaded member to said lever, the second threaded member being pivotally connected to said frame, and means for rotating one of said members relative to the other, first in one direction and then in the other direction for respectively lowering and raising said punch.

3. An apparatus for puncturing containers comprising a standard for receiving a container against a portion thereof, a punch-carrying arm pivotally supported by said standard and having a punch on its forward end, a first threaded member carried by said arm, a second threaded member mating with the first threaded member, an electric motor, means operatively connecting the electric motor to one of the threaded members for imparting rotation thereto, means responsive to the positioning of a container against said portion of said standard for energizing said motor to impart rotation to said one of the threaded members in one direction such as to move downwardly the punch, and means responsive to downward movement of said punch and the corresponding end of the arm to a predetermined position for reversing the direction of rotation of said one of the threaded members. 4. A structure according to claim 3 including means automatically operable upon upward movement of said punch to a predetermined position, following downward movement thereof, for breaking the circuit to the electric motor.

5. In a container puncturing apparatus having a frame, container receiving means, and a vertically movable punch; in combination, a pair of mating threaded members, means connecting said punch to one of said threaded members, the other threaded member being anchored to said frame, a reversible motor for cyclically rotating one of said members relative to the other, first in one direction and then in the other direction, for respectively lowering and raising said punch, means for activating and deactivating said motor including an actuator switch comprising a pair of first and second relatively movable, normally open, contacts interposed in an electrical circuit to said motor, a yieldable plunger adapted to be depressed by a container at said receiving means, said second contact being movable with said plunger whereby the second contact is moved against the first contact when said plunger is depressed, means to move the first contact out of engagement with the second contact when said motor has completed a cycle in its operation, and means to return said first and second contacts to their original, open 0 positions upon said plunger being released.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,131,582 Walsh Mar. 9, 1915 2,120,938 Kronmiller June 14, 1938 2,410,055 Frerer Oct. 29, 1946 2,692,426 Newsom et a1 Oct. 26, 1954 2,727,108 Chisholm Dec. 13, 1955 2,790,233 Soblett et a1 Apr. 30, 1957 2,791,828 Hatchett May 14, 1957 2,847,528 Combs Aug. 12, 1958 

